William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse
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William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse (1888–27 April 1915) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. The nephew of New Zealand politician, William Sefton Moorhouse, Rhodes-Moorhouse was the first airman to perform an action that was subsequently rewarded with the VC.
He was 27 years old, and a second lieutenant in the No. 2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps during the First World War, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 26 April 1915 at Kortrijk, Belgium, Rhodes-Moorhouse swept low over the rail junction which he had been ordered to attack. He released his 100 lb (45 kg) bomb, but was immediately plunged into a heavy barrage of small arms fire from rifles and machine-gun in the belfry of Kortrijk Church; he was severely wounded by a bullet in his thigh, and his plane was also badly hit. Returning to the Allied lines, he again ran into heavy fire from the ground and was wounded twice more. He managed to get his aircraft back, and insisted on making his report before being taken to the Casualty Clearing Station where he died the next day.
His body was returned to England and buried at the family home Parnham Park, Beaminster, Dorset.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Air VCs (P G Cooksley, 1999)
[edit] External links
- New Zealand Troops who have won the Victoria Cross (brief biography details)
- Location of grave and VC medal (Dorset)
- Find-A-Grave profile for William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse
